I’ve just deleted mine.
Finally.
Finally, because I haven’t used it regularly in years (Instagram, at least), haven’t used it at all for months now, and have been convinced that they’re both unnecessary and precarious.
For the longest time, only the idea of being able to keep my username on both platforms kept me there. Until today that I realized, well, so what? I wouldn’t know what would happen on those sites anyway. I didn’t even know what were happening there until I opened them.
Even with everything I have realized about applications like those, I still find it fascinating that I felt hesitant, anxious even, at the very moment of making the decision final. I’ve made the decision way back, this is just cleaning up the mess now–what gives?
But that anxious hesitation is gone. Like weights off my shoulders, they’re two fewer things to think about.
Some of the reasons behind:
- Abstinence is much easier than moderation, especially for things like those. This reason follows the premise that social media has been unhealthy for me. I was an addict, I couldn’t stop scrolling especially every single time I wasn’t in a good state, which used to happen so often… because of my use of social media as well.
- A form of boycotting: As much as I can, I don’t want to support businesses I don’t agree with. My accounts remaining there neither help me nor those who still use them. There’s a small hopeful thought saying maybe if a few more people leave, they’d get their selves together and fix things.
- Read this (Not sponsored/affiliated). Or watch this. There’s also that documentary on Netflix. And learn more from there.
- Besides having many consequences on my wellbeing, the positive things about social media are just crumbs. Technology has improved so much that it’s easier than ever to stay connected even and especially without them.
- Consider, as well: minimalism. (Other accounts, to follow… probably.)
- Related to the previous point: now that they’re gone, I can focus on the few channels/platforms I have and use those properly. I pay for my e-mail services, and this blog, and other stuff I’m building; I might as well use them to the full.
- Another connection: I don’t want a career/life based on social media. I don’t want what I do and create to be subjected to algorithmic competition either. And, also, that’s not marketing. At least, not the kind that I agree with for most cases.
A final note: they really make it so hard to delete your account from their site. Honestly not quite sure if I had properly deleted mine from Instagram or just deactivated it… whatever that means.